Quote:I am in 32225 zip code. There are a probably 10 companies in here who have great looking yards and not so great looking yards. I was curious if anyone was going to recommend any of the guys I have seen around here. Was looking more for validation I guess.
I was happy with my yard guy for 5 years but had to finally fire him this weekend. He stopped coming weekly and to me that is not acceptable in the growing months. I was paying $140 a month which comes to $35 a cut if coming every week. I had a good relationship with him and usually paid at the beginning of the month. The past year, he started slipping. I made it clear to him at least 10 times that I wasn't paying $70 per cut for him to come twice a month. His response basically every time was that his 2 cuts a month were better than other peoples "mow and blows" because of all the other things he did. I told him the other things he supposedly does don't mean a thing If my yard looks like a jungle for a week.
Over the years, he turned into a terrible business man and he just didn't get it. I dont like firing people and even told him if he continues to take advantage of my good nature, it was going to happen.
I also got the feeling that he felt like I was getting a deal. I don't k ow what the going rate was and he is the one who quoted me, so I didn't see that as my problem.
Thanks for the advice everybody!
You've made the right decision. Sounds like you've given him ample opportunity to get it right. To make matters worse, you were essentially paying 42.00 per visit. If it was year round of course. Based off of 40 mowings at 35 over a year it turns out to be 115 we charged. So I assume you had a full package with hedges and weeds or your lawn is pretty big.
We didn't work in that zip code, that's a ways away from were we worked. So I doubt I'd know of any of those guys. I'd ask neighbors. If you don't do that, you can always call a few up and ask if they can do it for just a month at first. Be honest with them. If they can handle the extra work they'll do it most likely. I won't lie. There have been times I've turned down 1 time mowings or short term ones because we were at the brink of what we could do. Sucks to turn down business, but it sucks more being in a position you can't live up to your side of the bargain.
I will say I've heard many stories about "the previous guy" never have I heard of them charging that price and then on their own switch to bi weekly. Especially with that poor excuse. I will also say when I hear horror stories there is a decent amount of clients I find out why the other guy stopped showing up. Meaning the client didn't pay, was hard to work for etc.
Edit: I'm not suggesting it is your fault.
